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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 29, 2016
CONTACT: Matthew Felan, 804-347-6840, [email protected]
GREAT LAKES BAY REGION LAUNCHES MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH PILOT PROGRAMS Regional STEM Initiatives
(August 29, 2016 – Freeland, MI) – As the new school year begins, thousands of middle school students across the Great Lakes Bay Region will benefit from enhanced math training thanks to a $500,000 pilot program launched by the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance.
The Middle School Math Project provides opportunities that go beyond standard classroom activities. In Freeland, for instance, students will have a new after-school program that takes part in math competitions, utilizing specialized preparation materials. In Bay City, students will have access to Spatial-Temporal Math, a highly regarded math instruction supplement with an online, visual learning resource.
Middle School Math Project pilot programs will take place this school year in the following districts:
Bay County – Bay City Public Schools, Essexville-Hampton Public Schools
Clare County – Clare Public Schools, Farwell Area Schools, Harrison Community Schools
Gladwin County – Gladwin Public Schools
Gratiot County – Alma Public Schools, Ashley Community Schools, Breckenridge Community Schools, Fulton Public Schools, Ithaca Public Schools, St. Louis Public Schools
Isabella County – Beal City Public Schools, Mt. Pleasant Public Schools, Shepherd Public Schools
Midland County – Bullock Creek School District, Coleman Community Schools, Meridian Public Schools, Midland Public Schools
Saginaw County – Carrolton Public Schools, Freeland Community School District
These pilot programs are the latest result from the 2014 STEM Impact Initiative, an effort led by the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance (GLBRA) to create a roadmap for building a STEM talent pipeline.
“There is a talent war being waged across the United States and across the globe,” said Matthew Felan, President & CEO of the GLBRA. “The Great Lakes Bay Region needs to have the most robust STEM talent pipeline possible to meet the growing needs of our current employers and to attract new business and jobs to the region. The middle school mathematic pilots are an important next step in building our STEM talent pipeline.”
One key component of the pilot programs involves educator support. Saginaw Valley State University will lead a program to develop math specialists involving up to 25 teachers from across the region, potentially impacting 2,500 students. The Gratiot-Isabella Regional Education Service District will launch a program for 44 teachers, impacting up to 5,000 students, in the following districts: Alma, Ashley, Beal City, Breckenridge, Bullock Creek, Clare, Coleman, Farwell, Fulton, Gladwin, Harrison, Ithaca, Meridian, Midland, Mt. Pleasant, Shepherd, and St. Louis.
The Middle School Math Project has been made possible by financial support from several organizations committed to regional STEM excellence, including:
Bay Area Community Foundation
Midland Area Community Foundation
Saginaw Area Community Foundation
AT&T
The Dow Chemical Company
Dow Corning Foundation
Nexteer Automotive
Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District
Gratiot-Isabella Regional Education Service District
About the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance:
The mission of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance is to encourage, support and celebrate regional collaboration and initiatives that will improve the economic vitality and quality of life in the Great Lakes Bay Region. The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance is comprised of 48 Board Members who represent Bay, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw counties. www.greatlakesbay.com
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